Emerson Network Power Outlines Importance of Rack Systems as Strategic Assets for System Uptime and Data Center Availability

“Taking a best practices approach when specifying racks – planning and investing to meet today’s needs with the thought of expansion tomorrow – helps to ensure that data center needs won’t readily outgrow capabilities,” said Ron Bednar, director, solutions technologies, Emerson Network Power. “Flexibility allows a data center to respond quickly to changing business needs. And while the racks themselves need to adapt to the room in which they are housed, the data center must be able to adapt to individual rack environments and zones.”



The Emerson Network Power white paper notes that racks are now available that improve equipment installation speed via tool-less, “slide in, slide out” procedures. Taller racks take advantage of the data center’s headroom, while rack depth has increased to accommodate equipment. Side breathing needs have increased rack width to meet new manufacturers’ specifications and to enhance equipment performance and life through hot-aisle/cold-aisle arrangements.



Also discussed are:



Increased weight capacities up to 3,000 lbs

19-inch rails for easier equipment installation and adjustment

Door configurations that increase air flow and are reversible to ease maintenance

Split-locking side panels to simplify installation

Cable-ready roof tops and cable ingress/egress

Rack grounding

Rack stability and security

Rack accessories, including cable and airflow management and IT equipment support